Caster



Patented Nov. 28, 1933 f `1,9.)"71,4 "18 UNETEDQ STATES FATENT OFFICE y,

CASTER Y Clifford msohaoht, Huntington, 1nd. Application Jnly'zo, 1931. serial No. 553,830

13 claims. (o1. 16-42) 'U v This invention is a novel resilient caster par- Fig. 4 is a bottom `plan 'view 'of a further n ticularly adapted to be inserted in the hollow modified caster. 1

legs of metallic furniture whichlegsare usually Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8Y and 9 are vertical sectionsl formed of tubular steel or thin sheetv metal, and through stillfurther modied forms ofthe caster.

- one object of the invention is to provide a caster, Figs. 10 and 11 'show modified means of .locking 60y either slidable or non-slidable, which will Africthe caster to the leg. tionally grip either the inner, or outer, or both As shown in'Fig.- 1` my novel caster preferably faces of the legs at the lower edgesthereof to comprises a molded soft rubber orother resilient hold the casterin position thereon. body `1 of greater diameter or widththan that .10 Heretofore much trouble has been experienced of the hollow leg L, the body 1 having an inte-l 65 in obtaining casters which wouldnt openings of gral Shank'la 0f relatively large dmeteredapted different sizes in such legs, and another object toy extendr upwardly into the lower end ofthe of the invention is to provide a novel caster of hollow leg'L, the Shank 1 being preferably-Slightly the above type having av-resilient retainingshank tapered as shownwhereby the same may yield.-`

which will snugly it various sizes of metal fur, ably l'itvarious other sizes of legs. v 70 niture legs and be frictionally held therein with- At the base of the shank 1ais a relatively-deep out using retaining screws, bolts, or the like. and narrow annular `recess 1b .adapted to snuglyl My novel resilient caster is therefore provided receive the 10We1' end 0f thehOllOW leg L aSYSh'OWIi with an integral conical `'shank adapted to fit in Fig. 1 Wherebythe'rubberof the body will'grip various sizes of openings in the legs, and is both the inside and outside faces of the leg at its 7`5 provided with a relatively deep and narrow anlower end, and frictionally vhold, the caster in nular recess around the base of the shank to position' on the leg. Also as the legs L each seat receive the lower end of the leg so that the in a resilient bodyl 1, the several casters sup-l caster will frictionally grip the leg both on its porting the furniture will cushion the latter, cominside and on its outside surfaces, pensating for slight differences in the lengths of g- Other objects are to provide a caster of the the several legs of the furniture, causing the above type having a hard shell around the base same to seat squarely on the floor surface.I Yof the rubber or resilient body to render the Around the sides and bottom of the rubber body caster slidable, and also to keep the rubber from 1 is a cup-shaped shell 2 preferably made of metal, spreading; also to provide a caster in which the but same may be made of wood,"bakelite, glass or g5 bottom of the shell is perforated to permit lugs` other hard slidable'material. The shell2 is simion the body to project therethrough, and render lar to those shown in Vmy companion applications, the caster relatively non-slidable; also to pro- Serial No. 536,026 filed May 8, 1931, matured into Vide a caster in which the rubber shank is Patent No. 1,855,844, April26, 1932; Serial No. threaded or corrugated, and the inner walls of 539,936 led May 25, 1931, matured into Patent 9@ the recess around the shank are also threaded No. 1,861,094, May 31, 1932; and Serial No. 543,191 or corrugated to more securely grip the inner filed June 9, 1931, vmatured into Patent No.

or outer faces of the lower end of the leg. 1,861,191, May 31, 1932; and preferably con- Other minor objects of the invention will be forms with the contour of the base and sides of l 40 hereinafter set forth. the rubber body 1 and has its upper end flanged, g5;

I will explain the invention with reference to rolled or bent slightly inwardly as at 2a to securely the accompanying drawing which illustrates sevlock the rubber body 1 within the shell, and to eral practical embodiments thereof to enable prevent the rubber body from spreading and to others to adopt and use the same; and will permit the body to slide easily over the iloor sur-Y summarize in the claims the novel features of face without marring or defacing the same. m0

construction, and novel combinations of parts, In Figs. 2 and 3 the caster is substantially the for which protection is desired. Y same as that shown in Fig.1 with the exception In said drawing: that the central portiony of the bottom of the Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a hollow shell 12 is cut away asat 12b, and thel rubberY 5G leg showing one form of my novel caster secured body 11 is provided with an integralresilient lug mi.; therein. llc which projects through the opening 12b and Fig. 2 is a vertical section through a modified contacts directly with the floor surface to further form of caster. cushion the furniture and prevent the caster from Fig. 3 is a bottom plan View of the caster shown readily sliding. This type caster may be used on in Fig. 2. hard wood floors and would keep the oor from 1m) n same as inV Fig. 1 with the exception that thev rubber shank 21a is threaded, as at 21e to engage corresponding interior threads in the interior of* the hollow leg L.Y Instead or" threads 21e the same might comprise corrugations.

In Fig. 6 the caster is substantially the saine as shown in Fig. l with the exception'y that Vther outer wall of the recess 31h is corrugated, as at 311,r toengage exteriorthreads on the leg L.V

In Fig. 7 both the shank 41a andv thewalls of the recess 41h are threaded or corrugated as at 41e, 41j, sto increase the frictional hold of thek caster on the leg L.

VIn Fig. 8 the caster is substantially the same Vas thatv shown in Fig. l except that the shank 51a is straight-sided instead of being tapered or conical. r

In Fig. 9 the casteris substantially the same as shown in Fig. 1 except/that the retaining shell or casing is omitted, the caster being made entirely of rubber.

l In FigsflOand 11 the casters are substantially the same as shown in Fig. 5 but instead'of using threads or corrugations (such as'21e, Fig. 5) on the shank 21a the shank isprovided with one or more molded laterally projecting lugsor knobs '11k adapted. to enter holes y..2 drilled into the legs L adjacent the lower ends, the knobs yieldlably retaining the casters on the legs.y The body 71 may contain the recess '11bv as in Fig. 11.

, imV

Fig. l0 shows a body '71x substantially the same as body 71 in Fig. 11, but with the recess omitted.

I do not liniit my invention to the exact forms .Y

shown in the drawing, Yfor obviously changes may be made therein within'the scope of the claims.

I claim: y f

l. A caster for hollow furniture legs, comprising a resilient body of greaterwidth than the leg, said body having a shank on its upper end adapted to snugly t within the hollow leg, and having a relatively deep and narrow recess around the base of the shank adapted to receive the lower vend of the leg and frictionally kengage the outer and inner surfaces thereof to retain the caster thereon; a retaining shell of slidable material around the lower portion of the body, the retaining shell having openings in its base; and integral resilient lugs on-the lower end `of the body slightl projectingA therethrough below the shell.

2. A caster for hollow furniture legs comprising a resilient body of greater width than the leg, said body having a shank on its upper end adapted to snugly t within the hollow leg, and an integral knob on the side of the shank adapted to enter a vhole in the leg to yieldably retain theY caster thereon. Y

3. VA caster for hollow furniture legs, comprising a resilient body of greater width than the leg, said body having a shank on its upper end adapted to snugly t Within the hollowleg, andvhaving a relatively deep and'narrow recess around the base of the shanky adapted to receive the lower end of the' leg and frictionally engage the outer and inner surfaces thereof to retain the 'caster thereon; a retaining shell -of slidable material around the lower portion ofthe body, anintegral knob'on the sidev of the shank adapted to enter a hole in the leg to yieldably retain the caster thereon.

CLIFFORD A. SCHACI-IT. 

